HONDURAN CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION (VALUATION BRANCH)

INITIAL ACTIVITIES INVOLVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VALUATION BRANCH TO ENSURE THE CORRECT DECLARATION OF VALUES FOR DUTY ON IMPORTED GOODS. THE PERIOD BETWEEN 7/72-3/73 WAS TAKEN UP WITH THE PREPARATION OF INTERNAL INSTRUCTIONS,DETAILED WORK PLANS & BUDGETING. ALSO,TRAINING COURSES ON VALUATION WERE MADE A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE CUSTOMS TRAINING CENTER & ADMINISTRATORS SEMINARS. THE PRACTICE OF ILLEGAL DISCOUNTS ON SUPPLIERS INVOICES HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM,WHICH TO CORRECT,WILL REQUIRE A CLARIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMS LAW TO GIVE THE EXAMINING OFFICERS FULL POWERS TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW VALUATION CONTROL MEASURES. IN THE MIDDLE OF 1973,ATTENTION WAS DIRECTED TO THE WIDESPREAD EVASION OF DUTY ON CARS IMPROPERLY IMPORTED BY HONDURAN NATIONALS. IN RESPONSE,INTERNAL REGULATIONS AND A NEW FORM WERE DEVELOPED TO PERFORM THE TRIPLE FUNCTION OF KEEPING TRACK OF TEMPORARILY IMPORTED VEHICLES AND,IN CASE OF SEIZURE, NOTIFYING THE MINISTRY OF HACIENDA"S CENTRAL COMPUTER AND ITS POLICE. ON 6/31/73 A DECREE WAS PASSED WHICH,IN EFFECT,REMOVED EXISTING LIMITATIONS ON EXEMPTIONS OF DUTY PERMITTED UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL INCENTIVE LAW. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE QUANTITY OF DUTY-FREE MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS IMPORTED BY CLASSIFIED MANUFACTURERS COULD BE EXPECTED TO INCREASE SHARPLY. AS A RESULT,REGULATIONS WERE DRAFTED AND A CORRESPONDING CONTROL UNIT IS BEING ESTABLISHED TO PREVENT ILLEGAL SALES. THUS FAR,A NEW OFFICE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN CUSTOMS HQ AND FOUR INSPECTORS NOMINATED. HOWEVER,THE LOW-SALARY BUDGETED FOR A CHIEF FOR THE NEW UNIT HAS CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN FINDING A SUITABLE CANDIDATE. THE ADVISOR WAS ALSO CONSULTED ON THE TRAINING AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE HACIENDA POLICE UNIT (ANTI-CONTRABAND) AND IN ESTABLISHING A DEPT OF INVESTIGATION. IN ADDITION,HE ASSISTED IN THE DRAFTING OF LIQUOR CONTROL REGULATIONS AND DEBT REPAYMENT PROCEDURES.